Willie C. Gardner

Willie C. Gardner was born March 22, 1944, in Philadelphia, MS to the late W. C. and Levadia Gardner.  He was the fifth child of eleven children. At an early age, he joined Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Freeny, Ms.

He attended Harmony Vocational School of the Galilee Community and Murphy High School in Walnut Grove, Ms. He later joined the Job Corps. Willie C. married the love of his life, Christine Stokes, on May 26, 1962. They were married for 47 years and proud parents of seven children.

Willie C. was a hard-working man and a great provider for his family. He enjoyed fishing and loved gardening. He was employed as a bulldozer and track hoe operator for over 40 years. He worked for T. L. Wallace Construction, Delta Construction, Dickerson & Bowen, and several other companies.

He was known as "Daddy C" to his grandchildren. Daddy C dedicated himself to his family and friends and played a major role in their lives. He helped to rear many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was full of joy and happiness and always had a joke for you.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Christine Gardner, his parents, W. C. and Levadia Gardner, maternal grandparents, Eular and Bennie Seals, paternal grandparents, Will and Roberta Gordon, three brothers, J.W.  Gardner, Leroy Gardner, and Leonard Gordon, three sisters, Katherine Gardner, Cora Townsend, and Betty Cook.

He transitioned this life on Monday, April 10, 2023.

He leaves to cherish his memories: five daughters, Jackie Callahan, Kathy Jones, Tina Gill, Teresa Callahan Hall, and Cynthia Gardner, all of Carthage, MS; two sons, Johnny (Shanta) Gardner of Carthage, MS and Larry (Kenya) Gardner of Walnut Grove, MS; three sisters, Mary Armstrong of Silver Springs, MS, Eular Mae Luckett and Thelma Stewart both of Carthage, MS; one brother, Bennie Gardner, Sr. of Carthage, MS; four aunts, Ella Ruth Talley of Moss Point, MS, Daisy Lee of Flint, MI, Bertha Gordon of Kansas, Kansas, and Marthalene Gordon of Chicago, IL; twenty-six grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.  And a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

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